Charles II Antique Silver Chamberstick, London 1683.

Object Description

A very early English silver chamber candlestick (also known as a go to bed) with the plain styling and hand beaten silver you’d expect from this date. It has a large drip pan and flat tongue shaped handle. The cylindrical candle socket has a pierced decoration which enables the stub of the candle to be levered out. A nice feature is the heart shaped hole for hanging when not in use. Hand engraved to the handle is a crest over initials “ICH” and also initials “LW” within stars. The reverse side of the handle has a decorative applied spine which also serves as a strengthener. Superb antique colour.

Weight 130g, 4.1 troy oz.
Diameter 12.7cm. Length 22.5cm.
Sterling silver.
London 1683.
Maker probably Roger Strickland.
Sterling silver.

Marks. Stamped inside the bowl with a full set of English silver hallmarks and to the handle reverse with lion and maker’s mark. The maker’s mark “RS over a star within a heart” is attributed as “probably” Roger Strickland in David Mitchell’s “Elizabethan and Stuart Silver”.

Maker: Roger Strickland

Roger Strickland, London silversmith, apprenticed to Samuel Hawkes 1675, free 1675. Livery 1682. He bound two apprentices Samuel Bullock and Nathaniel Lock (free by service 1687). Roger was not assessed for the Poll Tax in 1692 so had presumably died or left the city.

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Object Literature

Chambersticks first made an appearance in the 17th century and early examples are now very hard to find. Bed chamber candlesticks were designed for easy carrying and the early examples had either a finger ring or a tongue shaped or scroll handle to one side. They were used for lighting the way to bed and because of the movement created when they were carried about they needed a large drip pan to catch the wax. Most of these early examples have pierced sockets to enable the stub of the candle to be levered out.

Object Condition

The chamberstick is in good general condition. It has a superb antique colour and is very useable. This candlestick is over 340 years old and shows signs of use over the years. There are moderate signs of wear and light scratching commensurate with age and a few earlier restorations near where the handle meets the bowl. The handle is slightly bent and on the reverse side it has a couple of tiny wear cracks to the spine.

Object Details